Title of Invention

CDMA BASE STATION APPARATUS AND CODE ASSIGNMENT METHOD.

Abstract TITLE: CDMA BASE STATION APPARATUS AND CODE ASSIGNMENT METHOD. This invention relates to a code reader reads code specification information stored ina code list. An interference level measurer measures the interference level of a received signal despread with the code specification information read by the code reader. A threshold selector selects a code specification information corresponding to an interference level smaller than a preset threshold and stores the selected code specification information in a code candidate list. A code determiner determines the code specification information of a base station from the selected codee specification information. When a new base station is added, a base station code may be automatically determined without needing a theoretical design for assigning codes to all base stations.
Full Text CDMA BASE STATION APPARATUS AND
CODE ASSIGNMENT METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a base station
apparatus used in a CDMA-based radio communication
system and its code assignment method.
Description of the Related Art
A CDMA-based base station apparatus (hereinafter
simply referred to as "base station") presets code
specification information specific to each apparatus,
generates codes based on this code specification
information and transmits signals multiplied by those
codes. The code specification information is code phase
for a PN code, etc. and code type for a Walsh code, etc.
In a conventional method of assigning codes to base
stations, code specification information is fixedly
assigned through advance theoretical design to base
stations preventing them from interfering with one
another.
However, if a new base station is added, the
conventional method of assigning codes to base stations
above has a problem of having the necessity of repeating
theoretical design to assign codes to all base stations
once again.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It Is an objective of the present invention to
provide a CDMA base station apparatus and code assignment
method that will not require theoretical design to assign
codes to all base stations even if a new base station
is added.
The present invention achieves the objective above
by reading stored code specification information and
measuring its interference level, selecting code
specification information whose interference level is
smaller than a preset threshold as its own code
information candidate and determining the code
specification information of the station from the
selected code specification information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects and features of the
invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a
consideration of the following description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawing wherein one
example is illustrated by way of example, in which;
FIG.l is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a base station in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention;
FIG.2 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of the base station in Embodiment 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a base station in Embodiment 2;
FIG.4 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of the base station in Embodiment 2;
FIG.5 is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a base station in Embodiment 3;
FIG.6 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of the base station in Embodiment 3;
FIG.7 is a flow diagram showing a priority update
operation of the base station in Embodiment 3;
FIG.8 is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a base station in Embodiment 4;
FIG.9 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of the base station in Embodiment 4;
FIG.10 is a flow diagram showing a priority update
operation of a base station in Embodiment 5;
FIG.11 is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a base station in Embodiment 6;
FIG.12 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of the base station in Embodiment 6;
FIG.13 is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a base station in Embodiment 7;
FIG.14 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of the base station in Embodiment 7;
FIG.15 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of the base station in Embodiment 7;
FIG.16 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of a base station in Embodiment 8;
FIG.17 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of a base station in Embodiment 9;
FIG.18 is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a base station in Embodiment 10;
FIG.19 is a flow diagram showing code assignment
operation of a base station in Embodiment 10;
FIG.20 is a system diagram showing a radio
communication system including the CDMA base station
apparatus of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference now to the attached drawings, the
embodiments of the present invention are explained in
detail below. In the explanations below, code type is
used as code specification information.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG.l is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a base station in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Base station l in FIG.1 mainly comprises
transmission/reception section 20 that
transmits/receives signals to/from a mobile station and
receives a signal transmitted from another base station
via antenna 10, interference level measuring section 30
that measures the interference level of a signal received
by transmission/reception section 20 and code assignment
control section 40 that performs code type assignment
control based on the measured interference level.
Code assignment control section 40 comprises
memory 41 that stores code types and memory 41 comprises
all code list 42 that stores all code types in a list
form and candidate code list 43 that stores code types
to be assignment candidates in a list form.
Code assignment control section 40 also comprises
code reading section 44 that reads code types from all
code list 42 and outputs them to interference level
measuring section 30, threshold determination section
45 that determines a code type to be an assignment
candidate based on the interference level input from
interference level measuring section 30 and a preset
threshold and writes the code type to be an assignment
candidate to candidate code list 43 and code
determination section 46 that determines the code type
of the station to be used from candidate code list 43
and outputs it to transmission/reception section 20.
Interference level measuring section 30 comprises
code generation section 31 that generates codes based
on a code type input from code reading section 44,
despreading section 32 that despreads a received signal
multiplied by a code and level calculation section 33
that calculates the interference level of the despread
signal.
Then, the code assignment operation of base station
1 in Embodiment 1 is explained using a flow diagram in
FIG.2.
When base station 1 determines the code type of the
station, the sections of the apparatus such as candidate
code list 43 are initialized (ST201), and code reading
section 44 reads one code type to be searched from all
code list 42 and outputs it to code generation section
31 of interference level measuring section 30 (ST202).
Then, interference level measuring section 30
measures the level of an interference component of the
received signal (ST203). To be more specific, code
generation section 31 generates a code based on the input
code type, despreading section 32 despreads the signal
with the code generated and level calculation section
33 calculates the level of the despread signal.
Then, threshold determination section 45 compares
the interference level measured by interference level
measuring section 30 with a preset threshold (ST204) and
if the interference level is lower than the threshold,
the corresponding code type is written to candidate code
list 43 (ST205).
After the operations from ST202 to ST205 are carried
out on all code types stored in all code list 42 (ST206) ,
code determination section 46 determines the code type
of the station from among the code types stored in
candidate code list 43 (ST207)..
Thus, by measuring the interference level for each
code type, storing code types whose interference level
is lower than the threshold in the candidate code list
and determining the code type of the station, it is
possible to eliminate the need for additional code
assignment design when a new base station is added, for
example.
As a method of determining the code type of the
station it is also possible to store not only code types
but also interference levels in the candidate code list
and determine the code type with the lowest interference
level as the code type of the station. This allows
communications with the code type of the best
communication quality.
Moreover, as another method of determining the code
type of the station it is also possible to store not only

code types but also interference levels in the candidate
code list and determine the code type with the highest

interference level as the code type of the station. This
makes it possible to improve the efficiency of repetitive
use of a same code type and efficiently arrange base

stations.
(Embodiment 2)
Embodiment 2 is an embodiment giving priority to
previously used codes in code assignment operation.
FIG.3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
base station in Embodiment 2.
When carrying out code assignment operation, code
reading section 44 in base station 1 in FIG.3 reads a
previously used code type of the station which is held
in code determination section 46. If the interference
level of the previously used code type of the station
is lower than a threshold, threshold determination
section 45 outputs the code type to code determination
section 46. When the code type is input from threshold
determination section 45, code determination section 46
outputs the code type to transmission/reception section
20 as the code type of the station. The other components
in base station 1 in FIG. 3 are the same as those in FIG.l,
and thus they are assigned the same numbers and their
explanations are omitted.
Then, the code assignment operation of the base
station in Embodiment 2 is explained using a flow diagram
in FIG,4.
When base station 1 determines the code type of the
station, the sections of the apparatus such as candidate
code list 43 are initialized (ST401), and then code
reading section 44 reads the previously used code type
from code determination section 46 and outputs it to code
generation section 31 of interference level measuring
section 30 (ST402). Then, interference level measuring
section 30 measures the level of an interference
component of the received signal (ST403).
Then, threshold determination section 4 5 compares
the interference level measured by interference level
measuring section 30 with a preset threshold (ST404) and
if the interference level is lower than the threshold.
the previously used code type is output to code
determination section 46 and code determination section
46 determines the code type as the code type of the station
(ST405).
The subsequent operation when the interference
level of the previously used code type is higher than
the threshold is the same as the operations from ST202
to ST207 in the flow diagram in FIG.2. and thus their
explanations are omitted.
As seen above, preferentially using the previously

used codes eliminates the need for measuring the
interference level of other code types when the
interference level of the previously used code type of
the station is lower than a threshold, making it possible
to shorten the time required for code assignment
operation.
(Embodiment 3)
Embodiment 3 is an embodiment that counts the number
of times the interference level measured during a
communication was lower than a threshold, determines
priority based on the counted value and preferentially

uses codes with high priority in code assignment
operation. FIG.5 is a block diagram showing a
configuration of a base station in Embodiment 3.
In the base station in FIG.5 compared to base
station 1 in FIG.l, memory 41 only comprises all code
list 42 and all code list 42 stores not only code types
but also the number of times (hereinafter referred to
as "count value") the interference level measured during
a communication of each code type was lower than the
threshold.
Threshold determination section 45 incorporates a
counter and if the interference level of the code type
measured during a communication was lower than the
threshold, it increments the counter and stores the count
value together with the code type in all code list 42.
Furthermore, threshold determination section 45 treats
a code type with a higher count value as one with higher
priority and sorts all code types in all code list 42
in descending order of priority.
Code reading section 44 measures time with a
built-in timer and reads the assigned code type of the
station stored in code determination section 46 at



regular intervals from the beginning of the
communication. When carrying out code assignment
operation, code reading section 44 reads code types from
all code list 42 in descending order of priority.
Level calculation section 33 subtracts the power
level of the station input from transmission/reception
section 20 from the interference level including the
transmission power of the station calculated from the
despread signal during the communication and calculates
the true interfacence level.
The other components of base station 1 in FIG. 5 are
the same as those in FIG.1, and so they are assigned the
same numbers as those in FIG.l and their explanations
are omitted.
Then, the code assignment operation of the base
station in Embodiment 3 is explained using a flow diagram
in FIG.6.
When base station 1 determines the code type of the
station, the sections of the apparatus such as the timer
of code reading section 44 are initialized (ST601), code
reading section 44 reads the code types whose
interference level has not been measured yet with the
highest priority and outputs it to code generation
section 31 of interference level measuring section 30
(ST602) and interference level measuring section 30
measures the level of an interference component of the
received signal (ST603).
Then, threshold determination section 45 compares
the interference level measured by interference level
measuring section 30 with a preset threshold (ST604) and
if the interference level is lower than the threshold,
the code type is output to code determination section
46 and code determination section 46 determines the code
type as the code type of the station (ST605). If the
interference level is higher than the threshold in ST604,
the operations from ST602 are repeated once again.
The priority update operation during a
communication of base station 1 in Embodiment 3 is
explained using a flow diagram in FIG.7.
When base station 1 starts a communication, the
timer of code reading section 44 starts (ST701). If a
measurement continues for a certain period of time
(ST703) without power interruption (ST702), the timer
is reset (ST704), and code reading section 44 reads the
assigned code type of the station from code determination
section 46 and outputs it to code generation section 31
of interference level measuring section 30 (ST705).
Then, interference level measuring section 30
measures the level of an interference component of the
received signal (ST706). To be more specific, code
generation section 31 generates a code based on the input
code type, despreading section 32 despreads the signal
with the code generated and level calculation section
33 subtracts the power level of the station input from
transmission/reception section 20 from the interference
level including the transmission power of the station
calculated from the despread signal and calculates the
true interference level.
Then, threshold determination section 45 compares
the interference level measured by interference level
measuring section 30 with a preset threshold (ST707) and
if the interference level is lower than the threshold,
the built-in counter of threshold determination section
45 is incremented (ST708) and the count value in all code
list 42 is corrected (ST709).
A code type with a higher count value is treated
as one with higher priority and all code types in all
code list 42 are sorted in descending order of priority
(ST710) .
As seen above, by counting the number of times the
assigned code type of the station during a communication
was lower than the interference level, treating a code
type with a higher count value as one with higher priority
and measuring the interference level of code types in
descending order of priority, it is possible to
efficiently specify the code types whose interference
level is lower than the threshold and shorten the time
required for code assignment operation.
Embodiment 4)
Embodiment 4 is an embodiment that determines
priority based on the measured interference level and
preferentially uses codes with higher priority in code
assignment operation. FIG.8 is a block diagram showing
a configuration of a base station in Embodiment 4. In
the base station in FIG.8 compared to base station 1 in
FIG.l, memory 41 only comprises all code list 42 and all
code list 42 stores code types as well as the interface
level of each code type.
Threshold determination section 45 treats a code
type with a lower interference level as one with higher
priority and sorts all code types in all code list 42
in descending order of priority. When carrying out code
assignment operation, code reading section 44 reads code
types from all code list 42 in descending order of
priority.
The other components of base station 1 in FIG.8 are
the same as those in FIG.l, and so they are assigned the
same numbers as those in FIG.l and their explanations
are omitted.
Then, the code assignment operation of the base
station in Embodiment 4 is explained using a flow diagram
in FIG.9.
When base station 1 determines the code type of the
station, the sections of the apparatus are initialized
(ST901) , code reading section 44 reads the code type with
the highest priority whose interference level has not
been measured yet and outputs it to code generation
section 31 of interference level measuring section 30
(ST902) and interference level measuring section 30
measures the level of an interference component of the
received signal (ST903).
Then, threshold determination section 45 updates
the stored interference level to the interference level
measured by interference measuring section 30 (ST904)
and at the same time compares the interference level
measured by interference level measuring section 30 with
a preset threshold (ST905).
If the interference level is lower than the
threshold, the code type is output to code determination
section 46 and code determination section 46 determines
the code type as the code type of the station (ST906)
and treats a code type with a lower interference level
as one with higher priority and sorts all code types in
all code list 42 in descending order of priority (ST907) .
In ST905, if the interference level is higher than the
threshold, the operations from ST902 are repeated once
again.
Thus, by treating assigned code types with a higher
interference level measured as ones with higher priority
and measuring the interference level of code types in
descending order of priority in code assignment
operation, it is possible to efficiently specify code
types whose interference level is lower than the
threshold and shorten the time required for code
assignment operation.
(Embodiment 5)
Embodiment 5 is an embodiment that measures the
interference level of the assigned code of the station
during a communication, determines priority based on the
interference level measured and preferentially uses
codes with higher priority in code assignment operation.
The configuration of a base station in Embodiment
5 is the same as that in FIG.5 and the code assignment
operation at the base station in Embodiment 5 is the same
as that in Embodiment 4, and so their explanations are
omitted.
The priority update operation during a
communication of the base station in Embodiment 5 is
explained using a flow diagram in FIG.10.
When base station 1 starts a communication, the
timer of code reading section 44 starts (ST1001). If a
measurement continues for a certain period of time
(ST1003) without power interruption (ST1002), the timer
is reset (ST1004), and code reading section 44 reads the
assigned code type of the station from code determination
section 46 and outputs it to code generation section 31
of interference level measuring section 30 (ST1005).
Then, interference level measuring section 30
measures the level of an interference component of the
received signal (ST1006). To be more specific, code
generation section 31 generates a code based on the input
code type, despreading section 32 despreads the signal
with the code generated and level calculation section
33 subtracts the power level of the station input from
transmission/reception section 20 from the interference
level including the transmission power of the station
calculated from the despread level and calculates the
true interference level.
Then, threshold determination section 45 compares
the interference level measured by interference level
measuring section 30 with a preset threshold (ST1007)
and if the interference level is higher than the
threshold, the interference level is considered to be
the threshold (ST1008) and the interference level in the
corresponding code type in all code list 42 is updated
to the threshold (ST1009) . If the interference level is
lower than the threshold, the interference level in the
corresponding code type in all code list 42 is updated
to the measured interference level (ST1009).
A code type with a higher interference level is
treated as one with higher priority and all code types
in all code list 42 are sorted in order of priority
(ST1010) .
As seen above, by determining priority with
reference to the interference level of the assigned code
type of the station during a communication in addition
to the interference level in code assignment operation
and measuring the interference level of code types in
descending order of priority in code assignment
operation, it is possible to efficiently specify the code
types whose interference level is lower than the
threshold and shorten the time required for code
assignment operation.
Embodiment 6)
Embodiment 6 is an embodiment that determines
priority based on a count value indicating the frequency
of use and preferentially uses codes with higher priority
in code assignment operation. FIG.11 is a block diagram
showing a configuration of a base station in Embodiment
6. In the base station in FIG.11, compared to base
station 1 in FIG.l, memory 41 only comprises all code
list 42 and all code list 42 stores code types as well
as a count value indicating the frequency of use.
Code determination section 46 incorporates a
counter, increments the counter of the code type adopted
as the assigned code type of the station and stores the
count value in all code list 42 . Threshold determination
section 45 treats a code type with a higher count value
as one with higher priority and sorts all code types in
all code list 42 in descending order of priority.
The other components of base station 1 in FIG.11
are the same as those in FIG.l, and so they are assigned
the same numbers as those in FIG.l, and their
explanations are omitted.
Then, the code assignment operation of the base
station in Embodiment 6 is explained using a flow diagram
in FIG.12.
When base station 1 determines the code type of the
station, the sections of the apparatus are initialized
(ST1201), code reading section 44 reads the code type
with the highest priority whose interference level has
not been measured yet and outputs it to code generation
section 31 of interference level measuring section 30
(ST1202) and interference level measuring section 30
measures the level of an interference component of the
received signal (ST1203).
Then, threshold determination section 45 compares
the interference level measured by interference level
measuring section 30 with a preset threshold (ST1204)
and if the interference level is lower than the threshold,
the code type is output to code determination section
46 and code determination section 46 determines the code
type as the code type of the station (ST1205) and
increments the counter indicating the frequency of use
(ST1206) .
If the count value reaches a preset upper limit,
it subtracts a certain value from the count values of
all code types. However, if the count value after the
subtraction is a negative value, the count value is set
to 0. It is also possible to subtract a certain value
only from the count value of the corresponding code type.
Then, threshold determination section 45 treats a
code type with a higher count value as one with higher
priority and sorts code types in all code list 42 in
descending order of priority (ST1207) . In ST1204, if the
interference level is higher than the threshold, the
operations from ST1202 are repeated once again.
Thus, by treating assigned code types with a higher
frequency of use as ones with higher priority and
measuring the interference level of code types in
descending order of priority in code assignment
operation, it is possible to efficiently specify code
types whose interference level is lower than the
threshold and shorten the time required for code
assignment operation.
(Embodiment 7)
Embodiment 7 is an embodiment that fixes priority
for a first code type group and determines priority based
on the interference level measured for a second code type
group and preferentially uses codes with higher priority
in code assignment operation.
Here, the first code type group is a code type group
having the same priority at all base stations and the
second code type group is a code group having priority
specific to each base station.
FIG.13 is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a base station in Embodiment 7. In the base station
in FIG. 13, compared to base station 1 in FIG.8, all code
list 42 stores code types divided into a first code type
group and a second code type group and the second code
type group is stored together with the interference level
of each code type.
Threshold determination section 45 treats code
types in the second code type group with a lower
interference level as ones with higher priority, and
sorts code types in all code list 42 in descending order
of priority.
When carrying out code assignment operation, code
reading section 44 reads code types of the first code
type group in descending order of priority, and then
reads code types of the second code type group in
descending order of priority.
The other components in base station 1 in FIG.13
are the same as those in FIG.8, and so they are assigned
the same numbers as those in FIG.8 and their explanations
are omitted.
Then, the code assignment operation of the base
station in Embodiment 7 is explained using flow diagrams
in FIG.14 and FIG.15.
When base station 1 determines the code type of the
station, the sections of the apparatus are initialized
(ST1401), code reading section 44 reads the code type
in the first code type group with the highest priority
whose interference level has not been measured yet and
outputs it to code generation section 31 of interference
level measuring section 30 (ST1402) and interference
level measuring section 30 measures the level of an
interference component of the received signal (ST1403).
Then, threshold determination section 45 compares
the interference level measured by interference level
measuring section 30 with a preset threshold (ST1404)
and if the interference level is lower than the threshold,
the code type is output to code determination section
46 and code determination section 46 determines the code
type as the code type of the station (ST1405).
In ST1404, if the interference level is higher than
the threshold, the operations from ST1401 are repeated
once again and when a search is completed for all code
types of the first code type group (ST1406) , code reading
section 44 reads the code type in the second code type
group with the highest priority whose interference level
has not been measured yet and outputs it to code
generation section 31 of interference level measuring
section 30 (ST1407).
Then, interference level measuring section 30
measures the level of an interference component of the
received signal (ST1408) and threshold determination
section 45 updates the stored interference level to the
interference level measured by interference level
measuring section 30 (ST1409).
Then, threshold determination section 45 compares
the interference level measured by interference level
measuring section 30 with a preset threshold (ST1410)
and if the interference level is lower than the threshold,
the code type is output to code determination section
46 and code determination section 46 determines the code
type as the code type of the station (ST1411).
A code type with a lower interference level is
treated as one with higher priority and all code types
in the second code type group are sorted in descending
order of priority (ST1412). In ST1410, if the
interference level is higher than the threshold, the
operations from ST1407 are repeated once again.
As seen above, by fixing priority in the first code
type group, treating a code type in the second code type
group with a higher interference level measured as one
with higher priority and measuring the interference
level of code types in descending order of priority, it
is possible to efficiently specify the code types whose
interference level is lower than the threshold and
shorten the time required for code assignment operation.
Embodiment 8)
Embodiment 8 is an embodiment that randomly selects
a certain number of code types in code assignment
operation, preferentially measuees the interference
level from the selected codes and uses them as the
assigned codes of the station. A base station in
Embodiment 8 is the same as the base station shown in
When carrying out code assignment operation, code
reading section 44 of base station 1 in Embodiment 8
randomly selects a certain number of code types from all
code list 42, reads the selected code types one by one
and outputs them to interference level measuring section
30.
Then, the code assignment operation of base station
1 in Embodiment 8 is explained using a flow diagram in
FIG.16.
When base station 1 determines the code type of the
station, the sections of the apparatus such as candidate
code list 43 are initialized (ST1601), code reading
section 44 selects a certain number of code types to be
searched from all code list 42 (ST1602), reads one code
type from among the selected code types and outputs it
to code generation section 31 of interference level
measuring section 30 (ST1603).
Then, interference level measuring section 30
measures the level of an interference component of the
received signal (ST1604) and threshold determination
section 45 compares the interference level measured by
interference level measuring section 30 with a preset
threshold (ST1605) and if the interference level is lower
than the threshold, the corresponding code type as well
as the interference level is written to candidate code
list 43 (ST1606) .
Then, the operations from ST1603 to ST1606 are
carried out on all the selected code types (ST1607).
After the operations from ST1603 to ST1606 are
carried out on all the selected code types, if there are
assignment candidate codes (ST1608) , code determination
section 46 determines the code type stored in candidate
code list 43 with the lowest interference level as the
code type of the station (ST1609). In ST1608, if there
is no assignment candidate code, a certain number of code
types to be searched from among the code types that have
not been selected yet and the operations from ST1603 to
ST1607 are repeated (ST1602).
Thus, selecting a certain number of code types and
assigning codes can shorten the time required for code
assignment operation.
By the way, as the method of selecting a certain
number of code types, it is also possible to select a
code type to be searched first and then select a certain
number of code types to be aligned in order starting from
this code type. This makes it possible to simplify the
circuit to select a certain number of code types.
/(Embodiment 9)
Embodiment 9 is a code assignment method by which
a radio communication system classifies code types into

several groups and assigns one of them to each base

station as a preferred group. A base station in
Embodiment 9 is the same as the base station shown in
FIG.1.
When carrying out code assignment operation, code
reading section 44 of base station 1 in Embodiment 9 sets
a code group to be searched from all code list 42, reads
the set code types one by one and outputs them to
interference level measuring section 30.
If the interference level of the code type is not
lower than a threshold, threshold determination section
45 deletes all code type data included in the code group
to which the code type belongs from candidate code list
43.
Then, the code assignment operation of base station
1 in Embodiment 9 is explained using a flow diagram in
FIG.17.
When base station 1 determines the code type of the
station, the sections of the apparatus such as candidate
code list 43 are initialized (ST1701), code reading
section 44 sets a code group to be searched from all code
list 42 (ST1702), reads one code type from the selected
code group and outputs it to code generation section 31
of interference level measuring section 30 (ST1703).
Then, interference level measuring section 30
measures the level of an interference component of the
received signal (ST1704) and threshold determination
section 45 compares the interference level measured by
interference level measuring section 30 with a preset
threshold (ST1705) and if the interference level is lower
than the threshold, the corresponding code type as well
as the interference level is written to candidate code
list 43 (ST1706) .
Then, the operations from ST1703 to ST1706 are
carried out on all the selected code types (ST1707).
In ST1705, if the interference level exceeds the
threshold, all code type data included in the code group
to which the code type belongs are deleted from candidate
code list 43 (ST1708).
After the operations from ST1702 to ST1708 are
repeated until all code groups are set (ST1709), code
determination section 46 determines the code type stored
in candidate code list 43 with the lowest interference
level as the code type of the station(ST1710).
At this time, the code group containing the code
type determined as the code type of the station is
designated as the preferred group of the station.
Thus, even if a radio communication system adopts
a system that classifies code types into several groups
and assigns one of them to each base station as the
preferred group, it is possible to eliminate the need
for additional code assignment design when a new base
station is added, for example.
(Embodiment 10)
Embodiment 10 is a code assignment method when there
are a plurality of channels on an assigned frequency axis .
FIG.18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
base station in Embodiment 10 of the present invention.
Base station 1 in FIG.18 mainly comprises
transmission/reception section 20 that transmits/
receives signals to/from a mobile station and receives
an interference signal transmitted from another base
station via antenna 10, interference level measuring
section 30 that measures the interference level of a
signal received by transmission/reception section 20,
code assignment control section 40 that carries out code
type assignment control based on the interference level,
reception level measuring section 50 that measures the
reception level of the signal received by
transmission/reception section 20 and channel
assignment control section 60 that carries out channel
assignment control based on the measured reception
level.
Channel assignment control section 60 comprises
memory 61 that stores channels and memory 61 comprises
all channel list 62 that stores all channels in a list
form and candidate channel list 63 that stores assignment
candidate channels in a list form. Channel assignment
control section 60 also comprises channel setting
section 64 that sets channels to be measured from all
channel list 62 and outputs them to reception level
measuring section 50, threshold determination section
65 that determines assignment candidate channels from
the reception level input from reception level measuring
section 50 and a preset threshold and writes the channel
number to be an assignment candidate to candidate channel
list 63 and channel determination section 66 that
determines the channel of the station used from candidate
channel list 63 and outputs it to code assignment control
section 40.
Interference level measuring section 30 and code
assignment control section 40 adopts one of Embodiment
1 to Embodiment 9.
Then, the channel assignment operation of base
station 1 in Embodiment 10 is explained using a flow
diagram in FIG.19.
When base station 1 determines the channel of the
station, the sections of the apparatus such as candidate
channel list 63 are initialized (ST1901), channel
setting section 64 reads one channel to be searched from
all channel list 62 and outputs it to reception level
measuring section 50 (ST1902) and reception level
measuring section 50 measures the reception level of the
received signal (ST1903).
Then, threshold determination section 65 compares
the reception level measured by reception level
measuring section 50 with a preset threshold (ST1904)
and if the reception level is lower than the threshold,
the corresponding channel number is written to candidate
channel list 63 (ST1905).
Then, the operations from ST1902 to ST1905 are
carried out on all channels stored in all channel list
62 (ST1906) and channel determination section 66
determines the channel of the station from among channels
stored in the candidate channel list (ST1907).
After the channel assignment operation is
completed, through the determined channel of the station,
interference level measuring section 30 and code
assignment control section 40 carry out the code
assignment operation explained in one of Embodiment 1
to Embodiment 9 and determine the code type of the
station.
As seen above, measuring the reception level for
each channel, determining the channel of the station and
carrying out code assignment operation through the
determined channel of the station eliminates the need
for theoretical design for assigning codes to all base
stations even if there are a plurality of channels on
the assigned frequency axis.
As the method of determining the channel of the
station, it is also possible to store channels as well
as the reception levels in the candidate channel list
and determine the one with the lowest reception level
as the channel of the station. This allows
communications using the channel with the best
communication quality.
Furthermore, as the method of determining the
channel of the station, it is also possible to store
channels as well the reception levels in the candidate
channel list and determine the one with the highest
reception level as the channel of the station. This
makes it possible to improve the efficiency in repeatedly
using the same channel and efficiently arrange base
stations.
The embodiments above explained cases where a code
type was used as code specification information, but the
present invention is not limited to this, and can use
other information such as code phase. Furthermore, the
embodiments above can be combined among them as
appropriate.
In the embodiments above, the frequency of
implementing code assignment operation can be set as
appropriate such as implementing code assignment
operation at specific intervals or when power is turned
on.
The base station apparatus in the embodiments above
can switch code types when the communication quality
deteriorates by the mobile station apparatus monitoring
the communication quality and reporting it to the base
station apparatus and the base station apparatus
carrying out code assignment operation based on the
communication quality related information from the
mobile station apparatus.
An explanation for this code type switching method
is given below. FIG.20 is a system diagram showing a
radio communication system including the CDMA base
station apparatus of the present invention. Mobile
station apparatus 2 and mobile station apparatus 3 in
FIG.20 are located in a radio zone which is an area
allowing communications with base station apparatus 1
and have a function to monitor the communication quality
and report it to the base station apparatus.
Now, suppose base station apparatus 1 transmits a
signal to mobile station apparatus 2 and mobile station
apparatus 3 using code type n and the
transmission/reception section determines whether the
communication quality has deteriorated or not based on
the communication quality related information received
from mobile station apparatus 2 and mobile station
apparatus 3.
If base station apparatus 1 determines that the
communication quality has deteriorated, it first
determines code type m to be updated using the code
assignment method explained in one of the embodiments
above.
Then, base station apparatus 1 notifies mobile
station apparatus 2 and mobile station apparatus 3 of
the time required until the code is changed. When the
notified time has elapsed, base station apparatus 1
switches code type n to code type m.
Thus, switching a code type when the communication
quality deteriorates can maintain the communication
quality optimal even if interference from neighboring
cells occurs.
Furthermore, when there are a plurality of code
types to be searched, it is possible to share code types
to be searched between the base station and mobile
station, search respective shared code types, report the
search results from the mobile station to the base
station, organize the search results by the base station
and switch the code types based on these search results.
If the mobile station can perform RAKE reception
with a plurality of code types, it is also possible, when
switching code types, for the base station to transmit
a signal using both code types before and after the update
and for the mobilestation to perform RAKE reception of
both code types before and after the update.
In the case of a radio communication system that
performs transmission from the base station to mobile
station using a plurality of code types, it is normally
possible to determine all code types used using the code
assignment method explained in one of the embodiments
above. When switching the code type whose communication
quality has deteriorated in this radio communication
system, if nothing other than the code to be switched
is changed, it is possible to carry out smooth switching
of code types without deteriorating the overall
communication quality.
As explained above, the CDMA base station apparatus
and code assignment method of the present invention can
eliminate the need for theoretical design for assigning
codes to all base stations even if a new base station
is added.
The present invention is not limited to the above
described embodiments, and various variations and
modifications may be possible without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
This application is based on the Japanese Patent
Application No. HEI 10-269608 filed on September 24 , 19 98 ,
entire content of which is expressly incorporated by
reference herein.
WE CLAIM:
1. A CDMA base station apparatus comprising:
a code reader that reads out stored code specification information;
an interference level measurer that measures an interference level of a signal of the
code specification to code information;
a threshold determiner that selects the code specification information having a
smaller interference level than a predetermined threshold as a code specification
information candidate for said CDMA base station apparatus; and
a code determiner that determines, from the code specification information selected
by said threshold determiner, the code specification information having the highest
interference level for said CDMA base station apparatus.
2. The CDMA base station apparatus as claimed in claim 1,
wherein , for each code specification information, said threshold determiner counts
the number of times the interference level has become smaller than the
predetermined threshold; and
wherein, with reference to the respective numbers of times acquired through the
counting by said threshold determiner, said code reader reads the code specification
information from those having greater numbers.
3. The CDMA base station apparatus as claimed in claim 2,
wherein said code reader reads the code specification information for said CDMA base
station apparatus during communication;
wherein said interference level measurer measures the interference level of the code
specification information; and
wherein said threshold determiner compares the measured interference level to a
predetermined threshold and counts the number of times the interference level has
become smaller than the predetermined threshold.
4. The CDMA base station apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
a first code specification information group that contains code specification
information with a reading order; and
a second code specification information group that contains code specification
information without a reading order,
wherein said code reader, when reading the code specification information from said
second code specification information group, starts from the code specification
information having smaller interference levels.
5. The CDMA base station apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising;
a plurality of code specification information groups containing code specification
information; and
a code assignment controller that, if one of the plurality of code specification
information groups contains the code specification information having a smaller
interference level than a predetermined threshold, determines the code specification
for said CDMA base station apparatus without measuring the interference level of
other code specification information,
6. The CDMA base station apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein a
predetermined number of code specification information are divided to form a code
specification information group.
7. The CDMA base station apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
threshold determiner does not select the code information candidate for said CDMA
base station apparatus from a code specification information group containing code
specification information having a greater interference level than a predetermined
threshold.
8. The CDMA base station apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
a reception level measurer that measures a reception level of a received signal;
a channel setter that reads out a stored channel number and outputs the channel
number to said reception level measurer;
a threshold determiner that selects the channel number having a smaller reception
level than a predetermined threshold as a channel number candidate for said COMA
base station apparatus; and
a channel determiner that determines, from the channels selected by said threshold
determiner, the channel having the highest reception level for said CDMA base station
apparatus.
9. A code assignment method for use of a CDMA base station apparatus,
comprising:
reading out stored code specification information;
measuring an interference level of a signal of the code specification information;
selecting the code specification information having a smaller interference level than
a predetermined threshold as a code information candidate for said CDMA base
station apparatus; and
determining, from the code specification information selected by said threshold
deteminer, the code specification information having the highest interference level for
said CDMA base station apparatus.
10. The code assignment method as claimed in claim 9, comprising:
counting, for each code specification information, the number of times the
interference level has become smaller than the predetermined threshold; and
reading, with reference to the respective numbers of times acquired through the
counting, the code specification information from those having greater numbers.
11. The code assignment method as claimed in claim 10, comprising:
reading the code specification information for said CDMA base station apparatus
during communication, and measuring the interference level of the code specification
information;
comparing the measured interference level to the predetermined threshold; and
counting the number of times the interference level has become smaller than the
predetermined threshold, the counting performed for each code specification
information read.
12. The code assignment method as claimed in claim 9, wherein when the code
specification information is read from a code specification information group
containing code specification information without a reading order, the reading starts
from the code specification information having great interference levels.
13. The code assignment method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the number of
times each code specification information has been set as the code specification
information for said CDMA base station apparatus is counted; and
wherein, with reference to the respective numbers of times acquired through the
counting, the code specification information is read from those having great numbers.
14. The code assignment method as claimed in claim 9, wherein if one of a
plurality of code specification information groups contains the code specification
information having a smaller interference level than a predetermined threshold, the
code specification information for said CDMA base station apparatus is determined
without measuring the interference level of other code specification information.
15. The code assignment method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a predetermined
number of code specification information are dividing toform a code specification
information group.
16. The code assignment method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a code
specification information group containing the code specification information having a
greater interference level than a predetermined threshold is not subject to the
selection of the code information candidate for said CDMA base station apparatus.
This invention relates to a code reader reads code specification information
stored in a code list. An interference level measurer measures the interference
level of a received signal despread with the code specification information read
by the code reader. A threshold selector selects a code specification information
corresponding to an interference level smaller than a preset threshold and stores
the selected code specification information in a code candidate list. A code
determiner determines the code specification information of a base station from
the selected code specification information. When a new base station is added, a
base station code may be automatically determined without needing a theoretical
design for assigning codes to all base stations.

Documents:

777-cal-1999-granted-abstract.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-claims.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-correspondence.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-description (complete).pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-drawings.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-form 1.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-form 18.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-form 2.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-form 3.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-form 5.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-gpa.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-letter patent.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-priority document.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-specification.pdf

777-cal-1999-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 218710
Indian Patent Application Number 777/CAL/1999
PG Journal Number 15/2008
Publication Date 11-Apr-2008
Grant Date 09-Apr-2008
Date of Filing 13-Sep-1999
Name of Patentee MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL, CO. LTD.,
Applicant Address 1006, OAZA KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA 571-8501, JAPAN.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 OKUBO YOSHIYUKI 1-20-24-206, NAKAZATO, MINAMI-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 232-0063, JAPAN;
2 ASANO NOBUO 4-15-404, WAKABADAI, ASAHI-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 241-0801, JAPAN.
3 HORIKAWA IZUMI 2-14-5, NISHISHIBA, KANAZAWA-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 236-00017. JAPAN.
PCT International Classification Number H04B 7/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10-269608 1998-09-24 Japan